Protesters Say Abuse Inquiries Often Unfounded

Waving placards that called HRS a ``Home Recking Service,`` a half dozen people who claim they were unjustly accused of child abuse protested outside the Broward County Courthouse on Thursday.

The protesters, members of a group called Victims of Child Abuse Legislation (VOCAL), said national figures show that 70 percent of all child abuse complaints turn out to be unfounded.

Yet, based on an anonymous call or a complaint made in the heat of a child custody battle, the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services can remove children from someone`s home, organizers claim.

``Anyone can make an anonymous call, and HRS will go directly into your home,`` said Sindi Postle, whose 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter were taken from her recently and placed in a shelter.

Postle said she had gotten into an argument with the workers of a day-care center where she left her son and that they retaliated by calling HRS and accusing her of child abuse.

Eight weeks later, her children were returned to her after HRS determined that she had not abused them, she said. But she said the experience was traumatic for her children, who were interrogated for hours during the investigation.

John Stokesberry, Broward district director for HRS, said about half of the child abuse reports in Broward County turn out to be untrue.

``People do make anonymous calls that turn out to be unfounded. Our hope is that our counselors are astute enough to see through those,`` he said.

He said each case is a judgment call.

``It`s almost like you`re damned if you do and you`re damned if you don`t,`` (remove a child from a home),`` he said.

Undeterred by pouring rain, the small band of VOCAL members picketed around noon at the courthouse, passing out leaflets and waving signs with slogans such as ``Child Psychological Torture.``

The members said HRS subjects children to embarrassing interviews and medical exams, acting largely on unsubstantiated tips.

A 54-year-old Pompano Beach man, who asked not to be identified, said he was fired three weeks ago from his job at a day-care center after some of his co- workers accused him of molesting the children.

He said the workers were angry because he had told them they weren`t paying enough attention to the youngsters.

``Parents of the kids in the center, my neighbors, even my minister wrote them and said this is ridiculous,`` said the man, who hasn`t been charged. ``I can`t believe this is happening.``